Juicy chicken breasts cooked in the air fryer, filled with fresh tomato slices and melty mozzarella cheese, then topped with a sweet balsamic glaze and basil. This simple meal is perfect for two but can easily be doubled for the whole family.
Ingredients:
For the Chicken:
- 2 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 oz / 55g mozzarella cheese, sliced
- 1 large tomato, sliced into half-moons
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
For the Balsamic Glaze:
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Instructions:
Step 1: Make the Balsamic Glaze
- Pour the balsamic vinegar and brown sugar into a pan.
- Heat on medium. Let it boil, then lower the heat to a simmer.
- Cook until the liquid thickens and reduces to about half.
- Remove from heat and allow it to cool.
Step 2: Prep the Chicken
- Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel.
- Place them on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to make 4–5 deep cuts (slits) in each piece — don’t cut all the way through.
- Season the outside of the chicken and inside the slits with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
- Drizzle a little olive oil over each breast.
Step 3: Air Fry the Chicken
- Preheat your air fryer at 350°F / 180°C for 5 minutes.
- Lightly brush the air fryer basket with oil.
- Place the chicken breasts in the basket and cook for 6 minutes on one side.
- Flip the chicken and cook for another 6 minutes.
Step 4: Add the Filling
- Take the chicken out of the air fryer.
- Carefully stuff the slits with mozzarella slices and tomato pieces.
- Put the chicken back into the air fryer and cook for 2 more minutes — just until the cheese melts and the chicken is fully cooked (internal temp: 165°F / 74°C).
Step 5: Final Touch
- Drizzle the cooled balsamic glaze over the chicken.
- Sprinkle with chopped fresh basil.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Tips & Tricks:
- Make sure your chicken is cooked to 165°F (74°C) for safety.
- Air fryer models may vary, so check doneness with a meat thermometer.
- Slightly aged mozzarella melts better than fresh mozzarella.
- For extra flavor, use ripe red tomatoes and high-quality balsamic vinegar.
Easy Chicken Caprese (Air Fryer)
Description:
Juicy air-fried chicken stuffed with mozzarella and tomato, topped with sweet balsamic glaze and basil. A quick, tasty dinner for two!
Duration:
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 oz / 55g mozzarella, sliced
- 1 large tomato, sliced
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- Fresh basil (for garnish)
Instructions:
- Boil balsamic vinegar and brown sugar, then simmer until thick. Let it cool.
- Cut slits into chicken breasts. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
- Drizzle with olive oil.
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F / 180°C. Cook chicken for 6 minutes per side.
- Take out and stuff slits with mozzarella and tomato.
- Cook for 2 more minutes until cheese melts and chicken is cooked through.
- Drizzle balsamic glaze and top with basil. Serve warm.
Notes:
- Always check chicken with a meat thermometer to make sure it’s fully cooked.
- You can prepare the balsamic glaze ahead and store it in the fridge.